Accessibility: 
Geographic coordinates: 43° 21' 30" N 70° 25' 30" W
Nearest town: Kennebunkport. Located about a half-mile offshore from Cape Porpoise.
Established: 1833. Present lighthouse built: 1859. Automated: 1990.
Height of tower: 25 feet. Height of focal plane: 38 feet
Earlier optic: Fifth-order Fresnel lens. Present optic: VLB-44 (LED).
Characteristic: White flash every 6 seconds.
Fog signal: One blast every 15 seconds.
Goat Island Light was established in August 1833 to help guide mariners into the sheltered harbor at Cape Porpoise, a busy fishing center for many years. A 20-foot stone tower and dwelling were built, and John Lord of Kennebunk became the first keeper at a salary of $350 per year.
The extant brick tower and a new dwelling were built in 1859. Dangerous rocks in the vicinity continued to claim vessels, including forty-six between 1865 and 1920. There was not one death in all the wrecks, partly due to the keepers at Goat Island picking up survivors near the island.
Coast Guard keeper Joseph Bakken, who lived on Goat Island with his wife and three children, had a memorable experience during a severe storm in 1947. The waves washed over the island, damaging the boat slip and ripping out a fence. In the commotion the family forgot about their dog and her newborn puppies. Later that night, Bakken went into the cellar and found several feet of water. Floating in the seawater was the box that contained the dog and her puppies. All were safe and sound, and the keeper brought them upstairs out of harm’s way.
This was the last lighthouse in Maine to be automated (1990). Brad Culp, his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Christian and Dakota, were Maine’s last traditional lighthouse family.
In 1998, the lighthouse became the property of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (www.thekennebunkportconservationtrust.org). Work began in 2011 to rebuild the station’s fog bell tower and the walkway between the house and tower as part of a $380,000 restoration project.
Fascinating Fact 
For a time during the presidency of George H. W. Bush, secret service agents lived at Goat Island, which offers a good vantage point on Bush’s estate at Walker’s Point. The island served as an air-sea command center complete with a radar beacon.
Visitors with private boats are welcome to land at the island. The lighthouse can be seen at a distance from the public wharf in Cape Porpoise. From Route 1, take Route 9 to Kennebunkport. Continue to Cape Porpoise. Where the road takes a 90-degree turn to the left, continue straight onto Pier Road. Continue about 0.6 miles to the end at the town wharf. At low tide, it’s possible to walk part of the way to the island for a closer look.
